State-Licensed Doctors for Your Virginia Medical Marijuana Card

To apply for your Virginia medical marijuana card, you need a valid photo ID, proof that you live in Virginia, and a physician certification from a registered practitioner. Here’s everything you’ll need to have ready when you apply.

• A valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
• Proof of Virginia residency (utility bill, bank statement, lease agreement, or mortgage document with your current address)
• A Written Certification for the Use of Medical Cannabis from a registered Virginia practitioner (we provide this after your appointment)
• Payment for the optional $50 state registration fee (only if you choose to register for the optional state-issued card through Virginia’s portal)

The physician certification is the most important document because it’s what legally allows you to purchase medical cannabis at Virginia dispensaries. You don’t need prior medical records to get approved, and many patients get their certification the same day as their evaluation.

You likely qualify for a Virginia medical marijuana card if you have any diagnosed medical condition that a registered practitioner believes cannabis could help treat. Virginia does not have a strict list of qualifying conditions, which means approval depends on your practitioner’s medical judgment during your evaluation.

• Virginia residency is required: You must be a permanent or temporary resident of Virginia. A Virginia driver’s license or state ID serves as proof. If your ID shows an out-of-state address, bring a recent utility bill or lease showing your Virginia address.
• You must be 18 or older: Adult patients can apply on their own. Patients under 18 can qualify through a registered parent or legal guardian who becomes their designated caregiver.
• Any diagnosed condition may qualify: Virginia gives practitioners flexibility to recommend cannabis for conditions they believe it could benefit. Common conditions patients get approved for include chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and severe nausea.
• A registered practitioner must evaluate you: Only physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants registered with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy can issue written certifications. Our Virginia MMJ doctors are registered and can evaluate you online.
• You do not need a prior diagnosis: Your evaluating practitioner can assess your symptoms and determine if cannabis is appropriate during your appointment.

If you’re unsure whether your condition qualifies, schedule an evaluation. Our practitioners will give you an honest answer, and if you don’t qualify, you don’t pay.

Virginia dispensaries carry a full range of cannabis products to match different medical needs and personal preferences. Your practitioner may recommend forms based on your condition, but you choose what works best for your body and lifestyle.

• Flower (smokable cannabis): Dried cannabis buds you smoke or vaporize. Flower provides the fastest onset of effects, usually within minutes. Virginia dispensaries carry indica, sativa, and hybrid strains like Trainwreck for pain and mood support.
• Vape cartridges and oils: Pre-filled cartridges attach to a battery for easy inhalation. Effects hit quickly like flower but produce less odor. Some oils can also be taken by mouth.
• Tinctures: Liquid drops you place under your tongue for faster absorption than edibles. Tinctures offer more precise dosing and take effect within 15 to 30 minutes.
• Edibles: Gummies, chocolates, baked goods, and candies you eat. Effects take 30 minutes to 2 hours but last longer than inhaled products.
• Capsules: Swallowable pills containing measured cannabis doses. Ideal for patients who want consistent, familiar dosing like traditional medication.
• Topicals: Lotions, balms, and creams applied directly to skin for localized relief. Topicals do not produce psychoactive effects.
• Beverages and liquids: Drinkable cannabis products including infused teas, sodas, and syrups you mix into drinks.

Virginia dispensary staff can help you select the right product form and potency for your condition once you have your written certification.

Yes, Virginia allows home cultivation. Any adult 21 or older can grow cannabis at home under Virginia’s adult-use laws, which apply to medical patients.

• Plant limit is four per household: You can grow up to four marijuana plants total at your primary residence. This limit applies to the entire household regardless of how many adults live there or what growth stage the plants are in.
• No license or fees required: Virginia does not require a cultivation permit or annual fee for personal home grows.
• Plants must be out of public view: Your plants cannot be visible from any public road, sidewalk, or neighboring property. They must also be secured to prevent access by anyone under 21.
• Each plant needs a tag: Attach a legible tag to every plant with your name, driver’s license or ID number, and a statement that the plant is for personal use only.
• Personal use only: You cannot sell homegrown cannabis. Virginia does allow adults to gift up to one ounce to another adult without payment.
• Medical patients follow the same rules: Registered patients and caregivers can grow under identical guidelines, with no additional privileges or restrictions for medical cultivation.

Growing at home gives you control over your medicine, and Virginia made the rules straightforward for patients and adults alike.

Yes. Elevate Holistics connects you with state-licensed medical marijuana doctors registered with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. We match you based on appointment availability, and while you cannot select a doctor, all our physicians are:

• Registered with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to recommend medical cannabis
• Trained to evaluate qualifying conditions under Virginia law
• Committed to providing respectful, evidence-based patient consultations

If you need a doctor who speaks a language or have other accommodation requests, contact us before your appointment and we’ll work to match you appropriately.

Virginia has dispensaries spread across the state, so you can find one close by no matter if you’re in Tidewater, Central Virginia, or Northern Virginia. Here’s where patients around the Commonwealth go for their medical marijuana.

Down in Hampton Roads near Virginia Beach and the Kempsville area, Queen’s Green Virginia Beach is right off Indian River Road near the Chesapeake border and accessible from I-64 or Independence Boulevard. This Virginia dispensary is known for being patient-friendly and having a strong edibles menu, which helps when you need something and don’t want to deal with out-of-stock issues.

Up in Richmond near the West End or heading down Broad Street toward Short Pump, The D8 Dispensary Richmond is accessible from Broad Street or I-64. People mention this place for having staff who take time to answer questions and a good selection of products, especially if you’re newer to using your card and want some guidance.

Over in Norfolk near the Military Circle area or heading down Military Highway, The Cannabist Norfolk (7220 Tidewater Drive) sits on Tidewater Drive near the intersection with Military Highway and easy to reach from I-64 or Route 13. They’re known for having a good variety of concentrates and topicals, plus knowledgeable staff who’ll walk you through different options.

And in Chesapeake near Greenbrier or heading down Battlefield Boulevard, Chesapeake Apothecary is accessible from Battlefield Boulevard near the Greenbrier Mall and easy to reach from I-64 or I-464. This spot is known for having a solid variety of flower and consistent product availability, which helps if you’re trying to figure out what works for your symptoms.

Virginia Beach, Richmond, Norfolk, Chesapeake – you can find what you need without making a huge drive across the state. Call ahead to make sure they’ve got your products in stock before you head out.